The Forest

Have you wondered why we have to endure hard times? You can look at them two ways; 1. Why me-is God picking on me? 2. What is it that God wants me to learn from this hard time/situation?

Do you feel like God is picking on you? That you have some unforgiven sin that you have not spoke with him about and now He is "paying you back"? The Lord and Father that I serve does not work that way. His word says: "O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins". Psalm 7:9

This says to me that when you endure hard times that He will establish justice for the those who suffer, it may not be today or even next year, but there will be a time when you can look back and say "THANK YOU LORD" now I see, I had to go through those trying times to be the person that I am. He is righteous and He wants us to know Him and trust him with all that we have.

In our world where there is "instant gratification, no accountability" we want it all and now and if it goes wrong we do not want to be responsible for it. That is NOT how God wants us to live our lives. Only good things can come from patience and accepting responsibility for own mistakes and doings can and will BUILD CHARACTER....

God allows us to endure difficulty to keep us humble and to appreciate all our blessings..When you are walking through the forest and you are lost, just that little bit of light shining through to help us out of the forest should be a blessing, not a complaint because it is too hot. Are you thankful for the heat, because of the light to help or are you ungrateful because you are hot and sweaty???

Where do you think God wants you to be???

Peace & Calm

What is PEACE & CALM? I find myself asking that question alot..Today however, is different. My heart is so overflowing with Peace & Calm, that I feel almost giddy inside.

Peace is learning how to give it all to God and knowing that He will give you all that you need to get through this phase in your life. Even if it is just for a minute, hour, day, night or longer. He truly knows what is in our best interest even when we don't see it. God does not want us to be all bent up or stirred up inside. He wants us to know Peace so that we may witness to others HIS strength and resolve THROUGH our lifes ups and downs. What a wonderous God we serve. He is willing to take on our hurts, fears, worries, regrets, anger, heartbreak and grief so that we can say "God is my strength and my Power, He is the one who helps me get through all things that I cannot do on my own."

Calm is knowing that by giving to Him, He is in control. That we don't have to be up tight anymore. He will put to ease our concerns and fears, keeping us close to His heart. When we are at the point where we can allow ourselves to let go and let God be in control then there will be great CALM...Many times in the Storm of Life I have had NO OTHER choice but give to Him, there were no more turns or twists in the road, He was the one waiting at the STOP SIGN, saying.."Come my Child, Reach out your hand into mine, and I will take care of you"..

When you are ever in doubt and need some refreshing on God's love, just go to His word and anywhere in there you will find His comfort, His strength, His peace, His kindness and most importantly His Grace...Because without His Grace in our lives, we would not see the Kingdom of Heaven...

God Bless you today on your journey and I pray that He will lift you up and cradle you when you are not able to lift yourself up....

Thanksgiving & Praise

My heart is filled with the love of the Lord. My head is filled with pain, anguish, despair. As hard as I try at times, I cannot put my arms around JOY, PEACE & CONTENTMENT. Have you ever had times in your life where you felt this way? You know all the right ways to be, but just can't find it within yourself to be or do it? I love the Lord my God with all my heart, and I realize that most of what my struggles are of my own doing. I also realize that God sees everything BEFORE it enters into my life. So I ask the question...Why am I so important to Him? Why does He continue to believe in me when I can't? Because I am like the rest of the world; I do not feel worthy and I am such a HUMAN. When God looks at me according to His word, he sees a likeness of Him. WOW!!! Now I really feel small....I realize that He created us to be Christ Like...Right now that is extremely hard for me to do. I get so caught up in "ME" that I cannot see His Likeness...

We all become burdened and cumbersome by our own feelings, life and surroundings that we truly do forget who is in control..We should always Thank our Father even in times of sorrow, hurt, pain and loss. Times have not been easy for my family right now and we are enduring things that we never thought we would have to endure, but I have to Thank God and rejoice in the fact that He is STILL IN CONTROL and He is STILL MY HEAVENLY GRACIOUS FATHER..

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.2 Serve the Lord with gladness;come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord He is God;it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves;we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;and his truth endureth to all generations."Psalm 100

We have to as individuals, county, country, world acknowledge who He is and praise him even when we are suffering.

I don't know about you, but knowing this has really made me look a little differently TODAY at my own situations and understanding. I am so thankful, grateful that He never gives up on me even when the world does...

May your day be blessed by this today and Know that God loves you and so do I as a child of God...